Winter-Proofing Pots and Cedars

Country Living's expert answers your questions about gardening

Oct 10, 2010

Jonathan Wilson

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I have two terra-cotta planters on my driveway, in which I planted cedars in the spring. Will the cedars be able to survive a Canadian winter in the pots, or should I transplant them in the garden? Thank you.

Colleen Koehler, London, Ontario, Canada

Dear Colleen,
You should be more concerned about your beautiful but expensive terra-cotta pots than the tough cedars. Terra-cotta planters are prone to cracking in very cold winter areas, so are best emptied of soil and brought under cover to a frost-free place. If the cedars were in any other kind of large container (at least 30" x 30" x 30"), they would do fine left alone through the winter. Wood, concrete, stone or fiberglass can handle winter conditions well. Since your beautiful pots could break, it would probably be wise to take the cedars out of the containers now and plant them somewhere in the garden. Do it as soon as you can, so that they have a chance to settle in before the ground freezes. Be sure to prepare the soil well and keep the plants well watered after transplanting. Perhaps next spring you might consider lifting them and potting them up in other containers.